Project Background

Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF) with the support of MOH&FW, EPI, MOLGRD, Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunization (GAVI) & Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has established a Civil Society NGO Platform called ‘Immunization Platform of Civil Society in Bangladesh (IPCSB)’. The objective of this platform is to strengthen the health systems of the Government of Bangladesh in achieving excellence of immunization with NGOs who are engaged in immunization work.

In December, 2014 Immunization Platform of Civil Society in Bangladesh (IPCSB) has been established and launched by Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF) with the support of MoH&FW, EPI, MoLGRD, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance & Catholic Relief Services (CRS). The objective of this platform is to strengthen the Health Systems of the Government of Bangladesh in achieving excellence of immunization. Initially, the platform consists of twelve CSOs who are responsible to implement the immunization services and social mobilization on maternal and child healthcare in both Dhaka City Corporations. IPCSB has more 24 CSOs from 15 different districts who are the auxiliary members of the platform and they will be incorporated as general members when the platform activities expand to those districts. Our auxiliary members are actively involved in awareness building on immunization in community, social mobilization which are contributing to Health System Strengthening (HSS) process.

Project Detail

Methodology

The Facilitating Civil Society Organization (FCOS) Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF) after receiving the orientation on the formation of CSO platform and management in Uganda in February 2014, published an EOI in The Daily Prothom Alo, the highest circulated daily newspaper in Bangladesh in April to invite CSOs who have at least 3 years-experience in immunization related activities and have valid registration. About 489 EOIs were received from all over the country. The CSOs list from the EPI office and Dhaka City Corporation were collected simultaneously. An EOI selection committee was formed and several meetings of the EOI selection committee took place on CSO listing format, EOI selection criteria, scoring etc. About 64 organizations were selected primarily by the committee and letters were sent to them informing about the visit without mentioning the dates. A set of questionnaires were developed for collecting information during the organizational visits and household visits. Sudden physical visits of primarily selected organizations were done from June to July 2014. After completion of the visits finally 24 NGOs were selected by the committee. Later on it was decided that the other NGOs that were selected through the EOI selection process would be treated as auxiliary members and incorporated when the platform activities expand to those areas, they will act as general members of the platform.Several meetings with government and development partners (WHO, UNICEF etc) were conducted to share the project activities and the major recommendation from those meetings were to focus on the city corporation areas as the coverage of valid immunization in the City Corporation areas are comparatively less compared to rural areas. On the other hand, most of the EPI activities in city corporation areas are performed by NGOs. BBF identified the key focal persons Chief Health Officers of two Dhaka City Corporations, North and South, and most of the NGOs are working under them. Several meetings were done with them to motivate and get their attention for the platform. After getting the permission from both city corporations, BBF started to communicate with the NGOs. Several meetings were also performed with the NGO members to motivate them on the formation of the platform. After the common commitment of the NGOs, FCSO organized the general meeting on development of the mission, vision, goal of the platform. The meeting also resulted in the naming of the platform, logo design, formation of committees and roles and responsibilities of the working committees.Finally, IPCSB launched by Mr. Zahid Maleque, MP, Honorable State Minister, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, People’s Republic of Bangladesh on 7th December, 2014.

Project component and activity

a) Continue to conduct National mapping of health-focused and immunization-focused CSOs. b) Establish structures and governance processes for the CSO network (governing board, mailing lists, systems, etc…). c) Continue to recruit CSO members (develop criteria for membership, advertise network, etc.). d) Sharing the CSO mapping report with stakeholders. e) Register the network. f) Open a network bank account. g) Implement network advocacy strategy. h) Train network members on effective media communications, HSS funding, EPI related training, and other training needs. i) Support members in national HSCCs and/or child health and immunization sub-committees and working groups to identify solutions to improve CSO participation where needed through assessments of needs and trouble-shooting conducted through a dedicated platform meeting. j) Convene a quarterly review panel composed of CSOs and immunization technical experts and engage duty bearers to assess the national strategy with regards to addressing barriers to immunization delivery, especially in hard-to-reach communities. k) Put out semi-annual network newsletter. l) Document and publicize civil society’s lessons learned, best practices, innovations and case studies (relevant to HSS and immunization) through website, social media and newsletters. m) Develop a database of sympathetic members of Government and reach out to them with invitations, press releases, etc. n) Review, collect CSO inputs and incorporate CSO activities in HSS funding proposal and work closely with MOH&FW during the development of the proposal. o) Advocate for the inclusion of the CSO platform on the ICC and other key health-policy making platforms through quarterly meetings. p) Hold media events to promote immunization and the CSO platform. q) Engage as active members in key national HSS working groups/Committee. r) Participate and organize a civil society consultation with the Government. s) Coordinate civil society participation in HSS processes. t) Develop a documentation system for the network. u) Compile a database of CSOs with experience in various aspects of health service delivery and HSS and share this with in country stakeholders. v) Review and comment on HSS applications where applicable. w) Operation research to streamline/integrate parallel HSS projects/funding streams in the community. x) Dissemination of the research findings to CSOs and government.

List of M&E Indicators in the project

I. CSOs in the platform II. Developed governance structure, governing body, mailing list III. Recruit CSO members IV. CSO mapping report will be shared with stakeholders V. Applications will be submitted for registration of the platform VI. Bank Account will be open for platform VII. Implement network advocacy strategy through campaign/seminar conducted VIII. Train network members on effective media communications IX. Convene a quarterly review panel composed of CSOs and immunization technical experts X. Semi-annual network newsletter XI. Document and publicize civil society’s lessons learned, best practices, innovations and case studies (relevant to HSS and immunization) through website, social media and newsletters XII. Database of sympathetic members of Government XIII. Meetings with members and MoH&FW regarding HSS funding proposal XIV. Inclusion the platform in ICC XV. Media event will be done to promote immunization and platform. XVI. Platform members attend and contribute to the meetings of national HSS working group or other groups XVII. Available documentation system for the network XVIII. Information collected on health service delivery of CSOs XIX. Review and comment on HSS applications